Absolute Monarchy

Definition

Absolute monarchy is a political system where a single ruler, typically a king or queen, holds supreme authority over the state, with their powers often justified by divine right or inherited privilege. In this system, the monarch exercises complete control over the government and is not legally bound by a constitution or laws, which can lead to an unchecked exercise of power. This concept plays a significant role in the theories of social contract as it highlights the relationship between authority and governance.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Absolute monarchy was prevalent in Europe from the 16th to the 18th centuries, with notable examples being Louis XIV of France and Peter the Great of Russia.
2. In an absolute monarchy, the monarch has the power to make laws, levy taxes, administer justice, control foreign policy, and determine the state's religion without legislative consent.
3. The rise of absolute monarchies often came at the expense of feudal lords and local governance, as centralized power replaced decentralized rule.
4. Critics of absolute monarchy argue that it can lead to tyranny and oppression, as the lack of checks on the monarch's power can result in arbitrary rule.
5. The decline of absolute monarchies in the late 18th century was influenced by Enlightenment ideas about democracy, individual rights, and governance, leading to revolutions in places like France and America.

Review Questions

• How does absolute monarchy illustrate the principles of social contract theory proposed by Hobbes?
  • Hobbes' social contract theory posits that individuals consent to surrender some freedoms to a sovereign authority in exchange for security and order. In an absolute monarchy, this arrangement is exemplified as subjects give up their individual rights for the protection and stability provided by a powerful monarch. The monarch's absolute control reflects Hobbes’ belief in a strong centralized authority necessary to prevent chaos and maintain peace within society.
• Compare and contrast absolute monarchy with constitutional monarchy, focusing on how each system affects citizens' rights and governance.
  • Absolute monarchy grants full power to a single ruler without legal limitations, often leading to minimal or no citizen participation in governance. In contrast, constitutional monarchy shares power between the monarch and a legislative body, allowing for more citizen rights and representation. While absolute monarchs may impose laws unilaterally, constitutional monarchs operate under legal frameworks that protect individual freedoms and establish checks on royal authority.
• Evaluate how Enlightenment thinkers challenged the concept of absolute monarchy and contributed to its decline in Europe.
  • Enlightenment thinkers like Locke and Rousseau criticized absolute monarchy by advocating for natural rights, democratic governance, and social contracts based on mutual consent. Their writings inspired revolutionary movements that questioned divine right and absolute power, arguing instead for systems that respected individual freedoms and popular sovereignty. This intellectual shift fueled revolutions such as the French Revolution, ultimately leading to the decline of absolute monarchies across Europe as societies sought more equitable forms of governance.

Related terms

Divine Right of Kings: The doctrine that kings derive their authority from God, and thus are accountable only to God, not to their subjects or any earthly authority.

Constitutional Monarchy: A form of monarchy where the monarch's powers are limited by a constitution or laws, often sharing power with elected representatives or a parliament.

Social Contract: An implicit agreement among individuals to form a society and accept certain moral and political obligations in exchange for protection and social order.